December 30, 2009 Tad Curtis Office of the Governor Economic Development & Tourism 221 East 11 th Street, 4 th Floor Austin, TX 78711 Dear Mr. Curtis, The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce is pleased to submit the following information in response to the Project David Request for Information. Fort Worth is an ideal location for companies seeking a wide array of employment opportunities, including the manufacturing industry. We are fortunate to be located in a central location with excellent infrastructure such as DFW International Airport, rail, light commuter rail and multiple interstates including the NAFTA highway. In addition, a low cost of living, a strong quality work force, an outstanding quality of life and other community amenities are great attractions for companies locating to Fort Worth. Fort Worth ranks among the top business destinations in the nation with over 900 major business expansions or relocations over the past decade. Last year we added approximately 17,400 residents making Fort Worth the nation s 17 th largest city. In addition, we were recently designated as one of the country s Ten Most Livable Cities. It is not surprising that publications like Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, Money, The Economist and Entrepreneur proclaim Fort Worth as one of the best places to live and work in the United States. Companies such as Alcon, American Airlines, BNSF Railway, RadioShack, Pier 1and D.R. Horton are well aware of Fort Worth s qualities; they are headquartered here. Federal Express has made Fort Worth home, as their hub is located in our Alliance area. Fort Worth companies have experienced continued success, growth and expansion opportunities right here within Fort Worth. Fort Worth continually strives to provide a healthy pro-business environment. We look forward to meeting with you and Project David company representatives to discuss any needs you may have relating to the specific site locations. This letter is intended to provide you with information regarding incentives that may be available. There may be additional clarification and discussions necessary in order that all options may be fully explored. Please visit our community websites at www.fortworthgov.org and www.fortworthchamber.com for additional information. INCOME TAX Income tax benefits are not applicable, since the State of Texas does not collect Corporate Income Tax or Personal Income Tax.
TAX ABATEMENT Under Texas law, the City is allowed to negotiate a tax abatement agreement with a term of up to ten (10) years on any new real and personal property investment in any enterprise zone or separately designated reinvestment zone in the City. The City of Fort Worth makes decisions about tax abatements on a case-by-case basis through a process of application and negotiation with a company. (Note: In reviewing the scope of your project, realize that the property tax abatement is limited by state law to new investment; property already on the tax roll is ineligible for abatement.) ENTERPRISE ZONES The State of Texas allows cities and counties to designate areas as State Enterprise Zones, and to nominate facilities in these zones as Enterprise Zone Projects. Upon Fort Worth nominating a Project as an Enterprise Project and that Project qualifies and achieves designation as an Enterprise Project, that Project would then be eligible for the following primary state incentives. The City of Fort Worth has three Enterprise Zones. Sales and Use Tax Reductions The State s five-year Enterprise Project designation allows an Enterprise Project to be eligible for a maximum of a $1.25 million ($250,000 per year over five years) one-time refund in state sales and use taxes paid on qualifying items. The refund is based on the rate of $2,500/job. FOREIGN TRADE ZONES Foreign trade zones provide special customs procedures to U.S. plants engaged in international trade-related activities. Duty-free treatment is accorded items that are processed in foreign trade zones and then re-exported, and duty payment is deferred on items until they are brought out of the foreign trade zone for sale in the U.S. market. This helps to offset customs advantages available to overseas producers who compete with domestic industry. Subzones are special-purpose zones, usually at manufacturing plants. TRIPLE FREEPORT Freeport Tax Exemption helps reduce costs associated with inventory taxes. The exemption allows products and goods to be moved through the state without incurring inventory taxes, if those products are held for less than 175 days. Businesses with high-value inventories and multistate distribution systems can benefit significantly from this tax exemption. It allows them to store products without paying taxes, decreasing overall business expenses. ACCELERATED DEPRECIATION There are various degrees of accelerated depreciation and schedules based upon the individual personal property. A company s personal property is subject to a depreciation schedule, which is in effect a built-in tax abatement for personal property. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The Skills Development Fund: The Skills Development Fund is an innovative program created to assist Texas public community and technical colleges finance customized job training for their local businesses. These programs are flexible; funds can be applied to classroom training, on-site training, remote training or other arrangements that meet a company s needs. The fund was established by the Legislature in 1995 and is administered by Workforce Solutions. Average training costs are $1,000 per trainee; however, the benefit may vary. An example benefit could be 500 jobs x $1,000 = $500,000. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce with Workforce Solutions can help facilitate this program for your company. 2
Tarrant County College: Tarrant County College is an outstanding corporate partner and is prepared to assist companies in accomplishing training goals in Fort Worth. TCC will even act on behalf of companies in the procurement of Skills Development job training funds. The proactive TCC approach is being touted statewide as a training funds model. Their lists of area clients include Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, American Airlines, National Semiconductor, Bell-Helicopter-Textron and General Motors. There is no cost to the employer for the use of TCC s Corporate Services office for the pursuit of state training funds. There is also no obligation to utilize TCC s services following the receipt of funds. We are fortunate to have the Fort Worth Opportunity Center (FWOC), which conducts specialized training programs in house or on site as well. All these entities work hand in hand to provide the best possible training programs. Texas Workforce Commission: The agency responsible for recruiting applicants is the Texas Workforce Commission under the local leadership of Workforce Solutions; TWC has a state mandate for providing support of this nature. Supplemental and supportive recruiting assistance is also available through Tarrant County College and through its interagency linkages, networks and their respective training and training-related funding sources. Legislative authorization for continued funding for the activities of Texas Workforce Commission occurs on a biennial basis. Other funding sources that may be incorporated by Tarrant County College as part of its training grant are also authorized on an annual or biennial basis depending on whether the funds come from state or federal sources. The Texas Workforce Commission s local offices have professional recruiters trained to assist with staffing needs whether large or small, full-time, part-time or temporary. The Commission would also be available to have inquiries directed to them for screening purposes. There are no fees for recruitment by the Texas Workforce Commission or Workforce Solutions. Job Links: Job Links, a Chamber-sponsored program, helps bring employers and prospective employees together. At monthly forums, job openings at area employers are presented to public, private and non-profit organizations. Educational and training organizations, and traditional employment agencies with workers to place, also take part. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your client on locating a facility in Fort Worth. If additional information is needed, please contact me at 817-338-3390. Sincerely, David Berzina, CEcD Executive Vice President/Economic Development Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce 3
PROJECT DAVID AVAILABLE BUILDINGS & GREENFIELD SITES A. ALLIANCE TEXAS INDUSTRIAL PARK: Site 1: 18.6 Acre Land Site Site2: 20 Acre Land Site acreage can be increased or decreased to meet Project David s preferred site size Site 3: Alliance Gateway 72 can be demised to match the required square footage shell condition space 6 slab thickness Site 4: Alliance Gateway 54 208,000 SF Includes finish out, outlined in flyer 6 floor slab thickness Site 5: Alliance Gateway 18 can be demised to match the required square footage shell condition space 6 floor slab thickness 1 P age
Alliance Gateway 72 4798 Henrietta Creek Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76177, Tarrant County BUILDING FEATURES 472,500 S.F. available Minimum contiguous 135,000 S.F. 450 building depth 135 and 180 truck court 102 trailer parks (expandable to 121) 70 dock doors (expandable to 127) 64 car parks (expandable to 180) 32 minimum clear height, first bay in 50 X 50 typical bay spacing 4 X 8 skylights Reflective structural steel and white painted deck Ventilation at 3 air changes per hour Heating units provide 40 degree minimum in warehouse ESFR fire protection system Smooth panel painted tilt-wall construction Painted (white) interior walls Heavy landscape and irrigation TRANSPORTATION ACCESS 15 minutes to DFW Airport 5 minutes to Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) 5 minutes to Interstate 35W 10 minutes to BNSF Railway s Alliance Intermodal Facility ADDITIONAL FEATURES Triple Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption Foreign-Trade Zone Status available FedEx Southwest Regional Sort Hub US Customs and Border Protection Centralized Examination Station Air Cargo and Corporate aviation facilities Ground handling services Numerous staffing agencies Alliance Opportunity Center provides complimentary recruitment services Tarrant County College provides on-site employee training Hillwood 13600 Heritage Parkway, Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76177 817.224.6000 alliancetexas.com Alliance Texas is a 17,000-acre master-planned community including three distinctive developments Alliance Circle T Ranch, and Heritage SM. Together, they offer world-class aviation, office, industrial, retail, educational, residential and recreational opportunities. For more information about other commercial real estate opportunites, please contact us today at 817.224.6000. Copyright 2008 Hillwood Development Company, LLC.
Independence Parkway 64 Car Parks (expandable to 180 ) Parking Future Parking Screen Wall 180-0 9 Bays @ 50-00 = 450-00 135-0 10-0 Alliance Gateway 72 4798 Henrietta Creek Road Fort Worth, TX 76177 Denton County 45 Trailer Parks 19 Future Trailer Parks Truck Court 35 Dock Door Locations 26 Future Dock Door Locations 472,500 S.F. Available 21 Bays @ 50-00 = 1050-00 Pump Room Utility Court 35 Dock Door Locations Truck Court 31 Future Dock Door Locations
Alliance Gateway 54 700 Henrietta Creek Road, Roanoke, Texas 76177, Denton County AVAILABLE SPACE 208,00 S.F. available 14,000 S.F. office 100% HVAC Heavy power 24 dock doors (cross dock) 2 drive-in ramps 250 car parks (expandable) BUILDING FEATURES 400 building depth 130 north truck court 130 south truck court (expandable) 40 X 50 bay spacing 30 clear height Ventilation at 3 air changes per hour Smooth panel painted tilt-wall construction ESFR fire protection system Heavy landscape and irrigation TRANSPORTATION ACCESS 15 minutes to DFW Airport 5 minutes to Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) 5 minutes to Interstate 35W 10 minutes to BNSF Railway s Alliance Intermodal Facility ADDITIONAL FEATURES Triple Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption Enterprise Zone available FedEx Southwest Regional Sort Hub US Customs and Border Protection Centralized Examination Station Air cargo and corporate aviation facilities Ground handling services Alliance Opportunity Center provides complimentary recruitement services Tarrant County College provides onsite employee training Hillwood 13600 Heritage Parkway, Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76177 817.224.6000 alliancetexas.com Alliance Texas is a 17,000-acre master-planned community including three distinctive developments Alliance Circle T Ranch, and Heritage SM. Together, they offer world-class aviation, office, industrial, retail, educational, residential and recreational opportunities. For more information about other commercial real estate opportunites, please contact us today at 817.224.6000. Copyright 2009 Hillwood Development Company, LLC.
520 40 50 130 south truck court (expandable) 400 130 north truck court 14,000 SF Office Alliance Gateway 54 700 Henrietta Creek Road Roanoke, TX 76177 Denton County
Alliance Gateway 18 13300 Park Vista Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76177, Tarrant County Park Vista Blvd Westport Pkwy BUILDING FEATURES 399,000 S.F. available Minimum contiguous 147,000 S.F. 20.66 acre site 420 building depth 185 north truck court; 135 south truck court 108 existing trailer parks (expandable to 136) 40 dock doors (expandable to 124 with 2 oversize doors and ramps) 130 car parks 292 additional car parks available in adjacent lot 30 minimum clear height, first bay in 50 X 50 bay spacing (60 X 50 loading bays) 4 X 8 skylights, 1 per 6 bays Clerestory side lights Ventilation at 3 air changes per hour Smooth panel painted tilt-wall construction Heating units provide 40 degree minimum in warehouse ESFR fire protection system Painted (white) interior walls Heavy landscape and irrigation TRANSPORTATION ACCESS 15 minutes to DFW Airport 5 minutes to Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) 5 minutes to Interstate 35W 10 minutes to BNSF Railway s Alliance Intermodal Facility ADDITIONAL FEATURES Triple Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption Foreign-Trade Zone Status available FedEx Southwest Regional Sort Hub US Customs and Border Protection Centralized Examination Station Air Cargo and Corporate aviation facilities Ground handling services Numerous staffing agencies Alliance Opportunity Center provides complimentary recruitment services Tarrant County College provides onsite employee training Hillwood 13600 Heritage Parkway, Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76177 817.224.6000 alliancetexas.com Alliance Texas is a 17,000-acre master-planned community including three distinctive developments Alliance Circle T Ranch, and Heritage SM. Together, they offer world-class aviation, office, industrial, retail, educational, residential and recreational opportunities. For more information about other commercial real estate opportunites, please contact us today at 817.224.6000. Copyright 2009 Hillwood Development Company, LLC.
20 Dock Door Locations 33 Future Dock Door Locations 44 Trailer Parks 28 Future Trailer Parks Future Ramp 20 Dock Door Locations 27 Future Dock Door Locations 950-00 50 Future Ramp Westport Parkway 24 Future Dock Door Locations Existing Dock Door locations Future Dock Door locations 60 50 420-00 60 185-0 Truck Court 135-0 Truck Court 1 Future Oversize Door and Ramp 399,000 S.F. Available 1 Future Oversize Door and Ramp Alliance Gateway 18 13300 Park Vista Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76177 Tarrant County 130 Car Parks Park Vista Boulevard